Patrick Cowley - Primitive World (Hifi Sean Remixes) [Unidisc]

Format: 12" in printed sleeve.
CAT: SPEC1885

Hi-NRG synth pioneer Patrick Cowley largely stepped away from his usual robotic coolness on 1982's 'Primitive World', instead taking his cues from the groove rock of early 70s gay discos. It's a percussion-led track influenced by Baba-tunde Olatunji's 1959 hit 'Jin-Go-Lo-Ba', made even more famous by Santana's 1969 cover. Cowley updated the sound for the 1980s with electronics and drum machines but retained the playful attitude of the original. Two choruses of voices sing back and forth, giving Cowley the chance to include many of his friends from the San Francisco dance music community.

This has been DJ Hifi Sean's year, with a chart-topping album with David McAlmont, countless live appearances and high-profile remixes to his name. His take on Cowley's 'Primitive World' numbers among his best, bringing an intense TB-303 acid house vibe that perfectly compliments Cowley's strange electronic beeps and bleeps. The result is a disorientating mashup of 70s psychedelic groove, 80s synth pop and trashy 90s house vibes. 'Primitive World' is one of the shining standouts on Cowley's last album, 'Mind Warp', the so-called "death album" written as his health rapidly deteriorated. Hifi Sean's new remixes pay homage to Cowley's genius by even more solidly fusing the track with dance music's electronic future.